Device for controlling steam-engine operation



March 5, 1929. V. z. cARAcRlsTl DEVICE FOR GONTROLLING STEAM ENGINE OPERATION Filed Sept. 13! 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 5 1929- v. z. cARAcRlsTl 1,704,381

l DEVICE FR` CONTROLLING lS'IEM ENGINE OPERATION Filed sept. 1s, 1927 s she`n;sf.`sneetA 2 ATTORNEYS I March 5, 1929. v. z. CAACRIST. f 1,704,381A

DEVICE FOR CONTROL/LING STEAM ENGINE OPERATION Filed Sept.l3, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l s mW/M gg., Au; hufm;

-ATTORNES Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OF'FI/CE.

VIBIGINIUS Z. CARAG'BISTI, 0F BRONXVILLE, NEW YOB DEVICE FOR CONTBOLLING STEAM-EiN'GINE OPERATIQN Application med september 1e, 1927. serial np. 219348'.

pressionall the factors governing cut-off, in-

cluding those values of cut-off which produce maximum work at different speeds of.

rotation of the engine shaft. With this apparatus may be combined mechanism for indicating the speed of rotation of the en,

gine shaft, whereby the engineer, by comparing the two indications, may adjust the cut-ofi' to secure the maximum result. The apparatus is of particular utility in the operation of steam locomotives in which event the apparatus gives an indication of the surface speed and an indication in terms of surface speed units resulting from the conversion of the factors governing cut-off. The utility of the invention is by no means limited to this particular application, however, which will merely be described for purposes of illustration.

In the operation of steam locomotives, it is well known that in order to produce maximum work, position of cut-off with reference to piston stroke must be varied in accordance with the speed of the piston. In the case of locomotives, this piston speed is directly proportional to the speed of the locomotive, and an instrument indicating surface speed couldl be modified so as to give indications in terms of speed of piston travel. Such an instrument as this, however, would not be sufficient to indicate to the engineer the position of eut-off to produce maximum draw bar pull because theengineer, while knowing the different rates of piston speed,

would have to bear in mind what cut-off would produce the greatest work at the several piston speeds, and would have to make this mental computation before adjusting the cut-off valve to secure the best'result.

In order to overcome these difficulties, I ,0 have devised an instrument which is described in my Patent No. 1,627,076, granted May 3, 1927, by which all of the factors governing cut-off, including those values of cut-off which produce maximum result at different speeds, are converted into a single expression, and with this apparatus is com bined a speed indicating mechanism. The apparatus includes a pair of needles movable preferably over a common scale, one of these needles giving the converted reading `based on the various factors governing eut-off andl being actuated by a connection 'through the tumbling shaft to the reverse lever. With this apparatus, as the reverse lever is moved, the needle actuated by it takes a corresponding position on the dial and this needle should be placed in a position corresponding to the position of the speed needle on that dial, since both'needles read in similar units. Consequently with the apparatus of the patent it isV a simple matter for the engineer to regulate cut-off to secure maximum work since it is only necessary for him to adjust the reverse lever so;that` the needle actuated by it lies in line-in-line position with the needle indicating speed. i When the reverse lever is adjusted to the position referred to, the cut-off is appropriate for securing the best result at that particular sunface speed.

The apparatus of the present invention, while including manyv features of the apparatus/ illustrated in the patent, differs 'therefrom in including improved operating means for the cut-off indicating needle by which a better connection may be made between the needle and thewtumbling shaft. This connection is simpler than that illustrated and described 1n my prior patent,

whereby the cost of the apparatus 1s rey ducedand it is also simpler to install, so that the improved apparatus may be readily placed in position ona locomotive without requring'that the locomotive be put out of service. In addition, my improved apparatus includes new connections between the needle and the actuating mechanism therefor and various other improvementsin construction which will be made a parent from a consideration of the detailed description to follow.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a View largely conventional showing the installation of' the improved apparatus, i

Fig. 2 is a `view illustrating the installation of the instrument in the locomotive cab taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, c

Fig. 4 is a face view of' the cam housing llO of Fig. 8,`

Fig. 10 is a face view of thls cable gulde, and

Fig. 11 is a view illustrating the means for vconnecting the rack to the tumbling shaft of the locomotive. l

Referring now to Fig. 1, the apparatus is shown installed on aA locomotive of any standard type, this locomotive having a cutoff valve actuated by operating gear 21. Secured to the tumbling shaft 22 is an arm 23 connected by a rod 24 to the reverse lever 25 in the cab 26. l Fast on the tumbling shaft is a block 27 to which is connected a rod 28 extending from the block to the lhousing 29 for various parts of the mechanism.. The block 27 is illustrated in Fig. 1'1, and includes a pair fof arms 30 which may be bent partially to encircle the tumbling shaft and are then welded thereto in proper position lin an desired manner. Attached to the bloc 27 are upwardly extending posts 31 on l which is mounted another block 32. This block 32 is secured in adjusted position by means of nuts 33, 34, and when in proper position theposts arel cfut and the nuts preferably spot-welded to. the block to prevent the block'from moving from fixed position. The block 32 carries a lstud 35 and is straddled by a forked member 36 the legs of the fork being pivotally mounted on the stud 35 and secured thereon in desired position by lock nuts. The rod 28 is connected to the forked member 36 at one The housing 29 has a boss 37 extendin from its rear face, and extending throug this boss and into the housing is a shaft 38. A sleeve 39 is mounted on this shaft Within the housing for rotation with the shaft and on the sleeve is disposed a cam 40. The cam is held in position by means of a nut 4f threaded on the end of the shaft within the housing. Disposed in suitable'guides within the housing is a slide 42, this slidelbeing slotted as at 43 with the shaft 38 projecting through the slot. At one end the slide carries a stud 44 on vwhich is aroller 45 bearing a ainst the face of the cam and springs 4 attachedtoA the ,slide and to fixed pins 47 within the housing tend to force the slide in a direction such that the roller is `forced against the face of the cam. V`Attached't'o the slide -at the end opposite to r `that on which'the roller is mounted is a cable 48 which passes through an opening in' the wall of the housing and into a conduit 49. With the arrangement described, it will be apparent that as the camis rocked on` its axis, the slide will occupy different positions of rest, determined by the engagement ofthe roller with the cam, and consequently by the contour of the cam.

Projecting beyond the boss 37, the shaft 38 enters a casing 50 made up of upper and lower parts 51, 52. Within the casing 50 there is a pinion 53 mounted on the shaft, and the lower part 52 of the casing includes anextended portion 54 in which lies a rack 55 meshing With the pinion. This rack is held in engagement with the pinion by me. ns of a guide plate 56. The rod 28 attached to the block 32 extends through an opening in the end of the portion 54 and is connected to one end of the rack 55. The casing 50 is held in place against the end of the boss 37 bymeans of a/nut 57 threaded on the end of `shaft N38, and the arrangement is such that the casing may move freely with respect to the housing, so that it will assume different positions determined by the position of the rod 28 connected to the tumbling shaft. As this shaft is rocked through its path of travel, the rod is swung slightly 'in a plane at right angles to the axis of the shaft ,38. The casing 50 is freeto swing to the necessary extent in the same plane, so that it automatically adjusts itself to the desired position required by the position of the rod. The movement of the rod thus does not cause a binding of the parts. As the housing 29 may be mounted at different points on the locomotive, and at difer ent positions relative to the tumbling shaft, the adjustment of the casing 50 permits the connection between the rack and the tumbling shaft to be placed at any -desired angle with reference to the housing. The rod- 28 preferably includes a turn buckle 58 so that the length of the rod may be adjusted to particular conditions encountered in the loconotive in which the apparatus is to be use VVit'h the arrangement described, it will be x apparent that uponoperation of the reverse has a throw of approximately 30 1n each direction, whereas it is desirable that the indicating needle should have amovement of 90 or more. Accordingly, the rack and pinion are arranged to multiply the movement of the tumbling shaft to bring about a movement of t-he cam to the desired extent.

The (cable .48 leads through the conduit 49 to the cab of the locomotive wherein is placed the instrument 59 which includes a scale 60 scale 60 and actuated bythe cable 48, this needle assuming different positions of rest determined by the position of rest of the cam 42 in the housing 29;

In order that the cable 48 may run freely through the conduit in spite of the fact that this conduit includes a number of bends, I

have provided cable vguides which may be placed at different points in the conduit and permit changes in` direction in the cable movement. For example in the horizontal portion of the conduit designated 68 and leading from the housing 29 to the cab, it may be necessary to have a pair of bends, as illustrated in Fig. 8, and where such bends are required I employ guides 64 illustrated in detail in Figs. ,8 to 10, inclusive. l

Each guide comprises a pair of'members 65 and 66. The member 65 includes Ia disclike face portion and an edge flange 67, while the member 66 has a similar face portion and a flange 68. The flanges ongthe two members cooperate to form an enclosed housing within which is a curved pulley or sheave G9, this pulley being mounted on a pin 70 having a head 71 at one end and having threaded thereon a nut 72 at the other end. The two housing members of the guide are thus held in position by means of the pin which also serves as a'journal for the pulley. i`

The member 65 has a portion 73 of its liange which overlies part of the flange 68 won the member-:66 and the member 66 has a similar flanged portion 74 which overlies the ange on the member 65. '0n each of the overl ing portions 73 and 74 is `formed a boss 5 having an opening for the passage therethrough `of the cable'48. The overlying portions 7 3 and 74 of the two parts of the guide together comprise less than aeomplete circle so that the halves of the guide may be assembled in different positions of adjustment, thus permitting a variation inthe angle made by the two bosses 75. As shown in Fig. 8, the arts of the guide are assembled so that tie bosses 75 extend at right angles tb each other so that the cable 48 passing around the guide makes a turn.

By adjusting the members 65 and 66 until4v thejends 76 of their overlying flanged portions are in Contact, the yangle between the axes ofthe bosses is somewhat lessened so that the cable passing around the guide turns back slightly upon itself. Similarly, the two members 65 and 66'may be adjusted until the other ends 77 of their flanged portions 'are in Contact, in which event the cable will be turned through less than 90 inpassing through the guide. Such an adjustment is illustrated in Fig. 3 and the two parts of the guide may be assembled in any desired intermediate position with reference to each other, thus affording a wide range of angles through which the cable may be turned.

It will be seen thatk the new apparatus is of simple construction and easily installed on different types of locomotives. In the installation of the apparatus the housing 29 is placed on the right side of the', locomotive as far out from the center line as clearance for the parts will permit. With the tumbling shaft in position to place the right hand cylinder valves on true center, regardless of the position of the reverse lever, the straps 30 on the block 27 are bent to encircle the tumbling shaft and the block is shifted about the tumbling shaft until the center line through the stud 35 and the tumbling` shaft makes an angle of 90 with the center line through the rod 28. With the parts in this position, the straps 30 are welded to the shaft. The casing 50 enclosing the pinion 53 and the rack 55 is capable of a slight movement to compensate for the angular displacement of the rod 28 as'the tumbling shaft is moved to different positions of adjustment. Thus, when the parts are in operative position the tumbling shaft is free to be moved throughout its ordinary ynormal path of travel and atthe same time the-operative connection between the rack and pinion is maintained without binding. The rack and pinion are always protected from dirt and injury and may readily be maintained in well-lubricated condition.

The cable guide for the cable leading from the slide in the housing to the movable needle within the cab may have as many turns and oil-set portions as are required by local conditions.' Inorder that the cable may move freely it is necessary to provide guides for supporting the cable wherever such a turn is encountered, and the new guides which 4are illustrated herein afford convenient means for guiding the cable through any desired angle normally required. In the construction illustrated, the

instrument in which the` new movable needle on which-the cam is mounted, a pinion` on bility provided by the use of @able guidea the instrument may be disposedin any other convenient location where it-is visible at all times to the engineer.

I claim: Y

l. The combination with the operating gear .for the ,cut-off -of a' steam engine of a housing, acam within the housing movable 'to different positions, a Lpinion connected tothe cam, a rack engaging the pinion and mounted forkadjustment in a plane at an angle to the axis of rotation of the pinion, a connection between the rack and the reverse lever of the engine, a movable needle disposed at a distance from the housing, and means connected to the needle for moving the latter to different positions determined by the position o f rest of the cam.,v

2. The combination with the operating gear "for the cutoff of a'steam engine ofa housing, a cam within the housing, a shaft the shaft, arack engaging vthe pinion, a connectionl between the rack and the reverse lever of the engine, means for supporting f the rack in contact with the pinion adjustable in al plane at an angle to the shaft, a

. movable needle, and means connected to the needle and 'actuated by the cam fop` moving the needle to different positions determined bythe position of rest of the cam.

' J 3. The combination' with the'opei'ating gear for the cut-off of a steam engine of ,'a"

housing, .a slide within the housing, a movable needle, a connection between the needle and the slide whereby the needle occupies different positions of rest determinedA by the position of the slide, a cam within the hous,-

ing engaging. the-slide, rack and pinion means for actuating the, cam, a casing for Vthe said rack and pinion means connectedy lto the housing and adjustable with relation thereto, and a connection from the rack to the reverse lever of the engine.

- a. The combination with the operating /gear for the cut-off mechanism ofia steam engine of a housing, a cam mounted within the housing for oscillation, a shaft mounted in the wall of the housing/to carry the cam, this shaft having a portion extendingbeyondthe housing wall,"`a pinioin on the said portion of the shaft, Va rack engaging the pinion, a casing enclosing the rack and pin- .ion attached to the housing and adjustable with respect thereto at right angles tothe axis of, said shaft, a movable needle at a distance from the housing, a connection between the cam and the needle such that the needle occupies different positions of restdeterinined by theposition of rest of the cam, and a connection between the rack and the reverse lever of the engine.

5. The combination with the operating gear for-the cut-off of a steam locomotive of a housing, a shaft mounted in the wall of the housing having a portion outsidethe housing, a cam mounted on the shaft within the housing, a movable needle at a distance from the housing, means `connected to the needle and actuated by the cam whereby the needle occupies different positions of rest determined by the position of rest of the cam, a pinion disposed on the shaft outside the housing, a rack engaging the pinion and movable to cause the rotation of the pinion and the oscillation of the cam, a casing enclosing the pinion and the rack, and a con-V nection extendingl from the rack through the wall of the casing and leadingy to the tumbling shaft of the locomotive.

6. The combination with i the operating i gear for the cut-off of a steam locomotive of a housing disposed adjacent the tumbling rack and the tumbling shaft of the loco- 'l motiye. Y y 7i 'in apparatus of the type described, the

vcombination of a movable needle, a cam,

va connection between the needle and the cam s iich that the needle'occupies different positionsv of rest determined by the position of rest oflthe cam, a pinion connectedto the cam, a rack engaging the pinion and connected to the tumbling shaft of the locomotive, and means for supporting the rack in engagement with the pinion adjustable in a plane at an angle to the axis of rotation of the pinion.

8. The combination with the operating gear for the cut-off ofa locomotive of a movable needle, a cam, a connection between the needle and the cam operable to move the needle to different positions determined by the position of the cam, a pinionconnected to the cam, a rack engaging Vthe pinion, and a connection between the rack and the tum-l bling shaft of the`locomotive including a block secured to the tumbling 'shaft and a pivotal -connection between the block and the rack. Y

9. vThe combination with the operating gear for ,the cut-on' of a locomotive of a movable needle in the cab of the locomotive, a camV mountedV for oscillation adjacent the said operating gear, a connection between lll( including a rack and pinion, the rack being pivotally connected to the block.

10. The combination with the operating gear for the cut-off of a locomotive of a movable needle, a'cam mounted for oscillation, a connection between the needle and the cam operable to moveV the lneedle to difyferent positions of rest determined by the a cam adjacent the said operating gear, a'

rack and pinion connection between the cam and the tumbling shaft of the locomotive, and aconnection between the needle and the cam operable to move the needle to different positions of rest determined by the positionv of rest of the cam and includin an enclosed conduit, a cable within the con uit, and a plurality of guides mounted as parts of the conduit, each including a sheave for the cable, and a'twoart housing for lthe sheave, theseparts being connected to the conduit and beingrelatively ad'ustable.

Y12. The combination with t e operating gear for the cutoff of a locomotive, of a movable needle, a cam, a connection between the vneedle and the cam operable to move the needle to different positions determined by the position and contour of the cam, and

,means actuated by-the tumbling shaft of the,

locomotive for moving the cam as the tumbling shaft is adusted to different positions attached to the tumbling.

including a bl shaft and a forked rod straddling and pivotall connected to the block.

13. T e combination with the operating gear for the cut-off of a locomotive, of a movable needle, a cam, a connection between the needle and the cam operable `to move the needle/to different positions determined by thapos'tion and contour of the cain, and means'actuated by the tumbling shaft of the locomotive for movin the cam as the tumbling shaft is adjuste` to different positions including a block, means carried by the 'block en aging the tumbling 4shaft for attacli'ing t e block thereto, and a rod operatively connecting the block and the cam;

'14. The combination with the operating gear for the cut-off of a locomotive, of a movable needle, a, cam, a connection between the needle and the cam operable to move the needle to dierent positions determined by the position and contour of the cam', and means actuated-by the tumbling shaft of the locomotive for moving the cam as the tumbling shaft Iis adjusted to different positions including block, Vmeans projecting from the block and partiall encircling the tumbling shaft for attaching theblock thereto,

and a rod operatively connected to the cam and pivotally attached'to the block.

l 15. The combination with the operating gear for the cut-off of a locomotive, of a movable needle, a cam, a connection between the needle and the' cam operable to move the needle to different positions determined byL the position and contour ofl the cam, and

means actuated by thetumbling shaft of the locomotive for moving the cam as the tum- 4bling shaft is adjusted to different positionsv including a block, a pair of stra s on the block partially encircling the tumb ing shaft and attached thereto, and an o eratve connection between the block and t e carni 16. In a device of the t e described, the combination with the tum lin shaft of Ya steam engine' of a two-part bloc means carried by one of said parts for attaching the block to said shaft, an adjustable connection between the parts of the block, and means connected to the second part of the block for transmitting the movement of said part, produced by adjustment ofthe tumbling shaft, to a point remote from said shaft.l

17. In a device ofthe ty e described, the combination 4with the tum ling shaft of a steam en ine of a block mounted fast on the shaft an having a part adjustable with reference to the vshaft, and means connected to said adjustable part for transmitting the ion 18. yThe combination with theoperating gear for the cut-oli of a steam engine, of a movable needle, a housing, a member within the housing, connected tothe needle, a connection betweenthe member and a part of the operating gear transmitting movement to the member as the operating gear is actuatedto vary the cut-off, and a casinor en# closing a part of the connectionand ajustable"wi`thvrelation 'to the housing to permit movement to be freely transmitted-to said members.

In testimony -whereof I aix my signature.

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